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Salalah: The Oman Environment Agency, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity, launched a sub-regional workshop on “Biodiversity Conservation” here on Monday, July 22, 2024, a major step towards regional environmental cooperation.
The seminar, held under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Agency, brought together representatives from the GCC countries, government agencies, environmental experts and the United Nations.
In his opening speech, Eng Salim bin Nasser al Akhzami, Director General of the Nature Conservation Authority, highlighted the country’s rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystems within its borders. He highlighted the Authority’s significant achievements, including the establishment of 30 nature reserves and ongoing initiatives such as the tree planting program and the Tartil Commando project for sea turtle conservation. These efforts have enabled Oman to rise 99 places to a commendable 50th place in the Global Environmental Performance Index 2024.
Oman is strategically located on the Arabian Peninsula and has a unique biodiversity with rich ecosystems and species. The latest survey shows that Oman has: 1,453 species of plants, 530 resident and migratory birds, 111 species of reptiles and 87 species of mammals.
The workshop delved into Oman’s latest National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which is highly aligned with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This integrated approach, achieved through collaboration between government departments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, focuses on combating invasive alien species, which are a growing threat to ecosystems around the world.
The seminar also devoted special attention to the issue of invasive alien birds, particularly the Myna and Indian Crow. Al Akhzami highlighted the remarkable success of the nationwide campaign launched in 2022, which resulted in the eradication of more than one million alien birds in several governorates. In collaboration with stakeholders, plans are underway to expand the project to other regions.
The workshop highlighted the key role of regional cooperation among GCC countries in addressing the cross-border challenge of invasive species. Sharing best practices as well as harmonizing legislation and control measures are considered key steps to effectively curb the spread of this threat.
Majid bin Saleh Al Aqil, Head of the Wildlife Conservation Section of the GCC Secretariat, expressed appreciation to Oman for hosting the workshop, in line with the decision made by the GCC Environment Ministers in 2023. He further stressed the importance that GCC leaders attach to environmental protection and sustainable development, underscoring their commitment to the Green Middle East Initiative.
Other topics on the workshop agenda included reviewing and updating national biodiversity strategies and action plans; capacity-building and securing national biodiversity financing; and understanding the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity on invasive alien species and developing national strategies to control them.
The subregional workshop is expected to promote cooperation and knowledge exchange among GCC countries, paving the way for developing more effective strategies to conserve biodiversity and combat invasive species in the region.
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